Intermediate Hybrid F599

External appearance

F599 is a medium size, smooth, extremely dense white mushroom with a diameter of the cap of 3 to 6 cm. This strain is capable of producing high yields of medium size and big snow-white mushrooms. It keeps its white colour in the fridge and has an outstanding long shelf life.

Growing characteristics

F599 is an easy pinning, prolific strain combined with high quality mushrooms. Under correct growing conditions it does not over pin and produces high yielding third flushes. To avoid over-pinning a soft aeration is necessary and do take care that not all pins start to grow at the same moment. Evaporation is important for pin growing of later flushes.

Compost and peak heating

This strain has no special demand for composts but dry compost or drying at spawn run reacts negatively on the yields. For a good third flush sufficient nutrients and moisture in the compost should be available.

Spawning and incubation

Recommended spawning-rate is 5 to 7 litres per ton of fresh compost or 8 litres through spawning. Optimal moisture content at spawning is 67 to 69% depending on the structure of the compost and the growing system. Spawn run takes 14 till 15 days because of strong mycelium growth. The optimal average substrate temperature is average 26 to 26,5°C.

Supplementing

This strain responds favourable to a moderate delayed release supplementation mixed in the compost at spawning or before casing. It improves quality and yield mainly of the third flush.

Casing

F599 is a spontaneous pin-setting strain therefore it is advisable to use very wet casing soil with a course structure. In a shelf system it is better not to use closed plastic underneath the compost to avoid too even flushes. Too much fine mycelium in the casing results in over-pinning and mistakes at later watering. Watering in total from casing till aeration 15 to 18 litres per m² depending on moisture content of compost and casing. Do start this watering early after casing.

CAC’ing or ruffling

Ruffling creates even pinning. Therefore it is better to use Cac’ing by mixing about 400 gr. phase III compost or 100 gr. CAD per m² casingsoil, in order to get more dispersed first and later flushes. At levelling the casing soil do take care to preserve the course structure on the surface.

Aeration and pin-setting

Aerate like shown in growing proposal graph but when problems with over-pinning occur than this strain should be flushed very gently in about 3 days from 21°C air temperature down by 0,5°C per day to 19°C at a CO2 level of about 2000 ppm. This also means that aeration should be started in an early stage. For pin setting the relative humidity should be around 93% till 5 days after the start of aeration. After this reduce slowly to 88% over several days. At the end of pin setting no moistening or light watering because this increases the number of initiated pins.

Pin growing and cropping

If too many pins are formed it is impossible to avoid mass pin growing by high CO2 contents or early watering. This problem has to be solved by slow aeration and short periods of high CO2 at pin setting. Also increasing the air temperature by 1°C on day 7 and 8 after the start of fresh-air may help. Keep the compost temperature at 20°C just before and at the first picking day. To get the highest yield and the best quality than, on certain main days, two times a day the biggest mushrooms has to be picked. Increasing the airtemperature to 21°C at the last picking days improves the white colour of the stems. As shown on the growing proposal increase air temperature, CO2 and relative humidity at watering at the end of the flush for re-pinning. Do not pick all the small mushrooms at the end of the first flush but leave some on a certain distance from each other. In this way you prevent a too even appearance of the second flush.

Third Flush

Do water the casing soil at the end of the second flush with about 2 waterings. Increase air temperature, relative humidity and CO2 in a way to raise the compost-temperature to 21°C. The next day reduce air temperature, relative humidity and CO2. Keep reducing the air temperature very slowly for evaporation until pins of the third are pea-size.